Key Takeaways
- The risk of developing cataracts increases with age.
- Certain aspects of your lifestyle may increase your risk of developing cataracts.
- Experts recommend doing what you can to lower your risk by making lifestyle changes that keep you healthy.
Cataracts are a vision-changing disease that many people are unaware of. You may not realize that some risk factors for cataracts are factors in your daily life that are not associated with your eye health and vision.
This Cataract Awareness Month, here's what experts want you to know about what it means to have a cataract, how different aspects of your life can affect your risk of developing cataracts, and what you can do to lower your risk of developing cataracts. It's here.
What is a cataract?
A cataract is a cloudy part of the eye's lens. The lens is the clear part of the eye that helps focus light.
At first, you may not even notice that you have a cataract. However, over time, your vision may appear blurry, blurry, or less colorful. Cataracts can also make reading or other daily activities more difficult. If left untreated, cataracts can lead to vision loss.
“It can be like looking through a foggy window, because the details are lost,” said Dr. Carissa Janczak, clinical assistant professor at The Ohio State University College of Optometry. “Colors may appear less bright. Cataracts can also cause glare problems or vision problems in low-light situations, which can make driving at night problematic.”
Dealing with cataracts “can make normal, everyday tasks difficult,” Janczak said. Cataracts can usually be treated through surgery.
Who gets cataracts?
Anyone can develop cataracts, but some people are at higher risk than others. Older people are most likely to develop cataracts. More than half of Americans over 80 have cataracts or have had cataract removal surgery.
“Cataracts can start to develop anywhere between the ages of 40 and 50, but because they are generally slow to grow, there may not be any vision problems initially,” Janczak said. “This is why you may hear ophthalmologists say that people have had cataracts for years before they actually developed symptoms or required surgery to remove them.”
Bavand Youssefzadeh, DO, an ophthalmologist at Global Lasik and Cataract Institute in Huntington Beach, California, said other factors that may affect whether you develop cataracts include diabetes, steroid use, eye trauma, smoking, UV exposure and genes. .
Symptoms of cataracts include:
“If you develop normal age-related cataracts, symptoms typically begin after age 60,” Janczak said. “But everyone’s body is a little different. It depends on what type of cataract you are developing and your medical history.”
Surprising Risk Factors for Cataracts
Certain aspects of daily life that are not directly related to vision or eyes may actually contribute to increasing your risk of developing cataracts.
obesity
Several studies have shown a link between obesity and the risk of developing cataracts. One meta-analysis of 16 studies found that higher body mass index (BMI) was associated with an increased risk of developing age-related cataracts. Another study of Korean health data found that people with fatty liver disease (which can co-occur with obesity) had a higher risk of developing cataracts.
However, the reason for this link seems to be indirect rather than direct. “Obesity is associated with many health conditions, one of which is the risk of diabetes, which is a known risk factor for developing cataracts,” Janczak said. “High blood sugar levels in the body can cause changes inside the lens, which can lead to the formation of cataracts.”
Obesity is a complex disease, but research shows that treating it can help lower the risk of developing cataracts, Youssefzadeh says.
smoking
Smokers are two to three times more likely to develop cataracts than non-smokers.
“Smoking is a well-known risk factor for developing cataracts because it increases free radicals in our bodies, which damage special proteins in the lens,” Janczak said.
Simply put, the best way to lower your risk of developing cataracts from smoking is to quit smoking. “Smoking causes many health-related problems,” Youssefzadeh said. “The inflammatory effects of smoking affect your body and your eyes.”
If you want to quit smoking but are having trouble doing so, it may be a good idea to talk to your health care provider. There are many different ways to quit smoking, and these methods can help you find the one that's right for you.
where you live
Age remains the main risk factor for cataracts, but studies have shown that where you live may also play a role. One study of medical claims data from one million people found that people living in highly urbanized areas were more likely to develop age-related cataracts.
But the research isn't clear. “People living in rural areas are at higher risk because they have more exposure to sunlight,” Janczak said. “This is controversial and research still needs to be done to confirm this correlation.”
sunlight exposure
Unprotected exposure to UV rays can increase your risk of cataracts. One study of 816 people found that nearly 70% of those diagnosed with cataracts said they never or rarely used sunglasses, hats or umbrellas in harsh sunlight.
Spending a lot of time in the sun is a known risk factor for cataracts. “It’s important to wear sunglasses,” Youssefzadeh said.
Although you can't completely prevent cataracts, what you can do is “prolong the symptoms and prevent early onset,” Janczak said. “This involves eating a healthy diet, taking proper care of your health conditions, wearing sunscreen and protective gear, and more.” Wearing glasses at work or in sports situations, and quitting smoking are all things that benefit your overall health, not just your precious peepers.
What this means to you
Cataracts are a common disease that appears as people age. There is only so much you can do to lower your risk, but making health-promoting changes in your life, such as quitting smoking or managing your weight, can help.